Colorado revisits marijuana DUI standard

DENVER | A divisive driving-while-high bill is back before the Colorado Legislature as senators revisit a measure to say how much marijuana can legally be in a driver’s system.

A marijuana DUI bill was defeated last year amid heated opposition from pot activists and members of both parties. The bill being heard Monday would say drivers are too impaired to drive if they test positive for 5 nanograms or more of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.

Current Colorado law says drivers can’t be impaired by drugs but does not set a THC limit. Pot activists say impairment and THC levels aren’t directly related. The Republican sponsor of this year’s bill says law enforcement needs a standard to measure impairment.